VINA — Tucked away off Highway 99, and partially shrouded by a canopy of trees, thousands of people gathered to witness the 12th annual Blessing of the Grapes at New Clairvaux.

The centuries-old ceremony Saturday invited the community, religious or not, to take part in the monks giving thanks for a fruitful season.

Chanting and hymn singing commenced the ceremony that was pursued by a few kind words given by New Clairvaux winemaker Aimée Sunseri. The Blessing was provided by the Abbey of Our Lady of New Clairvaux abbot, Father Paul Mark Schwan.

For the Abbey to invite everybody to their home and take part in the traditional ceremony that celebrates the labor of their grape-harvesting love is a blessing, Sunseri said.

“It’s not just a single moment,” Sunseri said. “It is in a sense where it finally comes to an apex, but it takes us all year to get it to this point.”

The vineyard rests on 600 acres that also houses the monks quarters, guest housing, the New Clairvaux wine tasting room, and wine processing facility which the monks, along with Sunseri, process the day of harvest.

Before blocks of vines were planted, the monks sustained themselves harvesting prune and walnut orchards.

In 2000, the monks planted vines and teamed with the Sunseri family to create wines of New Clairvaux. The shared enterprise also includes labor, selling of the wine and working the tasting room.

Brother Pierre, 87, has dedicated his life to the monastery for 66 years. His favorite aspect of this annual gathering is mingling with the guests and sharing in the blessing of the grapes, people, and crops.

“That’s very important,” Pierre said with a glimmer in his eye. “You don’t realize how much everything comes from God — that’s how we believe it — we believe with all our heart that providence provides this for us because he loves us so much, and people are attracted to that.”

Cistercians of the Strict Observance are a Roman Catholic order of monks founded by Saints Robert, Alberic and Stephen Harding in AD 1098. The Cistercian way of life is cenobitic, meaning each monk’s search for God occurs within the monastic community.

Today, they are referred to as Trappists, guided by the ancient Rule of Saint Benedict, and in 1955, Our Lady of New Clairvaux Abbey was formed. Stillness, solitude and silence are pillars of virtue for those at the Abbey.

Pierre has been following the virtues of a monk lifestyle for 66 years and has devoted his life at this location from the beginning. Pierre was part of the original group of monks who settled in Vina long ago. He is the only remaining one from that group of men.

“The Lord took all the other brothers to heaven, and I said, “Why? Have you forgotten me?” Pierre said with a laugh.

Wine tastings and tours followed the morning blessing which filled the usually quiet and serene with a cheerful clatter. It’s that same tranquil atmosphere that drew Bonnie McIntyre, of Chico, to the peaceful compound.

It was her first time attending the blessing, but McIntyre said she often escapes to the winery when needed.

New Clairvaux translates to “clear valley” or the “valley of lights,” and that’s what McIntyre finds with every visit.

“I feel a sense of peace out here, normally,” she said. “With all these people, I don’t today, but there have been many times when I have left Chico and just come out here and sat, just to get away and have peace.”

Being a fan of the wines and the newly refurbished chapel, McIntyre said she often took shelter into the chapel before construction was completed to take a moment to herself and sing hymns. Witnessing the blessing and seeing the chapel as it was intended to stand were highlights to Saturday’s visit.

“I think it’s so wonderful to have something like this so close to Chico,” McIntyre said. “I really had no idea what it was like — the first time I came out here was just a couple of years ago was the first time I came out (to New Clairvaux), and once I found it, it’s just been fabulous.”